The Crystal Dolphin (part 4)

"-Nathan!
Nathan was just getting off the car when he was grabbed by Renata. She twirled him in the air until he got dizzy. He tried to turn back to hug her, bu he didn't know which one of the two Renatas there was the right one, so he hugged the wrong one and fell on the ground. She laughed.
- Tomorrow is your birthday! - she said - We've prepared a surprise for you!
Soraya helped her son to get up while Paulo was taking their bags into the house. Uncle Bruno appeared, with his bright smile, green-ocean eyes and his messy blond hair.
- Don't you dare to tell him - Bruno warned his daughter, picking up the heavy bags - Otherwise it won't be a surprise.
- I won't tell him - Renata said as she ran into the house like she was dancing, or flying.
Taísa helped Nathan take his things to the bedroom where he was going to sleep. The house was the same since he had been there for the last time, almost two years ago.
- You're taller, Nath - she pointed with a mischievous smile - Soon you'll be much taller than me.
He looked at his fourteen-year-old cousin. Taísa was two years older than Renata. She had dark hair like her mother, but the same green-ocean eyes from her father. Could that be true? Would he become taller than her? That would be amazing.
Nathan put his clothes inside the wooden wardrobe. He hung his shirts and doubled his pants. He quickly thrust his underpants inside a drawer for Taísa not to see them.
- Come - she called him - My dad made a snack for us, and later we can go outside for a walk at the beach if you want.
He nodded. They went down the stairs. The table of the dining room was decorated with lots of coffee cups and saucers, glass bowls full of cheese biscuits and, in the middle, Nathan's favorite part - a huge carrot cake with chocolate icing upon it. He sat. Taísa sat in front of him, and Renata sat by her side. Soraya sat by her son's side.
Nathan slowly stretched his arm towards a knive to cut a piece of cake, like an impossible mission for his mother not to notice that he was skipping the biscuits and going straight to the cake. However, he had to stop when he felt warm arms wrapped around his neck.
- Hello, swettie - said a confident and feminine voice - How are you?
- Hi, aunt Lívia - he said, smiling, trying to turn back his head to look her in the eyes.
Lívia was his aunt just by marriage, because the kinship was with uncle Bruno, who was Paulo's youngest brother. Nathan was never able to understand how a serious, earnest and mature woman like her could share the same house with someone like uncle Bruno. He was like a child who grew too much. However, when Nathan asked his mother about that, she only said that they complete each other. He was still trying to understand.
- Tomorrow, your birthday will be in a very special place - aunt Lívia commented, sitting near him - It was your uncle's choice.
- Really? - he was trying not to demonstrate, but he was burning with curiosity - Where will it be?
- Let me tell him, please! - Renata pleaded.
- I've already told you that you can't - aunt Lívia replied, with a voice that was suggesting that it wasn't the first time she was answering that request.
Nathan forced a smile, a little upset after noticing that he would not have a chance to discover. He would have to hold his curiosity a little bit more, although it wasn't his main skill. Maybe it was time to learn.
- Nathan - Paulo called - I think we can go outside and climb the rocks at the beach after we eat. What do you think?
- Cool! - he said - Thanks, daddy."
...

- Laila.